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Château Latour is a First Growth wine estate in Pauillac in the Bordeaux region of France. The castle was built in the early 14th century as a home shared by various feudal lords. It played a role in the Hundred Years War, serving as a garrison for the Anglo-Gascon army. But it wasn’t till the 16th century that wine production began there in earnest. In the late 17th and ... Read more

Château Latour is a First Growth wine estate in Pauillac in the Bordeaux region of France. The castle was built in the early 14th century as a home shared by various feudal lords. It played a role in the Hundred Years War, serving as a garrison for the Anglo-Gascon army. But it wasn’t till the 16th century that wine production began there in earnest. In the late 17th and early 18th century, Latour was owned by Alexandre de Ségur, whom Louis XV referred to as “Prince of the Vines.” Before his death in 1716, de Ségur purchased Lafite, and his son Nicolas-Alexandre, then President of Bordeaux, acquired Mouton and Calon in 1718. By the 18th century, peace between England and France meant increased trade with Bordeaux. This elevated the status of the finest French estates, which increased in value significantly as they saw more attention from the nobility. Though Bordeaux saw a lot of damage to estates in the French Revolution and breakups of their ownerships, Latour remained unharmed and remained in the Ségur family. It was officially named a First Growth, the highest possible honor for a French wine, in 1855.
By the mid 20th century, various inheritances meant many shares in Latour, which for 30 years became owned almost entirely by the British financial group Pearson and Harveys of Bristol. But in 1993, the majority of the estate was sold to François Pinault in Artemis, once again in French hands.
The prestigious wines are produced with respect to tradition with modern techniques assuring the highest possible quality. Latour is best known for its Grand Vin, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with an average annual production of 18,000 cases. They have a second wine, Les Forts de Latour and also a “third wine,” simply called Latour Pauillac. Bottles of Latour Grand Vin, particularly older vintages, have been known to sell for astronomical prices at auctions.
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